Paper-feed.



E. W. MYERS.

PAPER FEED.

APPLICATION FIL ED APR.25. um.

Patented an. 9, 1917.

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E. W. MYERS.

PAPER FEED.

APPLICAHON. FILED APR. 25. 1914 1,21 1,61 5. Patented Jan. 9, 1917.

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'UNITED STATES PATENT @FFEQE.

EDGAR W. MYERS, OF SAN JOSE, CALIFORNIA, ASSIGNGR, BY MESNE ASSIGNMENTS,T0

MASTEROLL PERFORATIN G MACHINE COMPANY, OF LOS GATOS, CALIFORNIA, A

CORPORATION OF CALIFORNIA.

PAPER-FEED.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented J an. 9, 1917.

Application filed April 25, 1914. Serial .No. 834,447.

To all whom it may concern Be' it known that I, EDGAR W. MYERS, of SanJose, in the county of Santa Clara, and in the State of California, haveinvented a certain new and useful Improvement in Paper-Feeds, and dohereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and exactdescription thereof.

My invention relates to machines for mak- 1 ing perforated sheetmusicand in particular to paper or sheet feeding mechanism, and among .otherobjects my aim is to provide a sheet feeding mechanism which willdispense with the employment of feed roll ers over the periphery ofwhich the paper must be carried or passed; will be adjust able to suitpaper of different widths; admit of such adjustment that the perforatedsheet may be longer or shorter than the master sheet; and withal will besimple in construction with the advantages coming from simplicity ofreduced cost of construction and freedom from liability to get out oforder, and to these ends and to others, which will be evident to thoseskilled in the art, my invention consists in the mechanism constructedsubstantially as hereinafter specified and claimed. s

In the accompanying drawings, Figure l is a vertical longitudinalsection of enough of a perforated music making machine to show anembodiment of my invention; Fig. 2 is a top plan view of the feedingmechanism; Fig. 3 is a vertical section on the line 3-3 of Fig. 2, thefull lines showing the position of parts for feeding paper of one width,and the dotted lines showing the position of parts when adjusted to feednarrower paper; Figs. 4: and 5 are detail views of one of the paperclamps; Fig. 6 is a detail view in cross section of the latch for theclamp actuating rail; Fig. 7 is a detail view of the ratchet-operatingmechanism.

Briefly described, the machines to which my invention "has beenespecially adapted have a punching or perforating mechanism whose actionis automatically controlled by a perforated master sheet. It is notnecessary to describe in detail the punching mechanism, it beingsufficient to explain that the sheet S to be perforated passeshorizontally to dies 10 and punches 11 and to call attention to PatentNo. 984,289, issued February 14, l9l'1,'for a disclosure of thedetailsof a suitable punch operating and controlling mechanism. The paper to bepunched after passing between the punches and dies is engaged by myfeeding mechanism and by the latter is fed or drawn along step by stepcoming from a roll (not shown) and being guided upward and horizontallyover a guide plate 12 secured to the frame of the machine. Myfeedingmechanism' is mounted upon a frame that comprises similar sideplates 13 which are bolted to the machine bed plate, and transverse barsor bolts 14 which rigidly space the side. pieces apart and maintain themin fixed relation to each other, one of these cross bolts beingat oneend of the frame and serving as a stationary shaft to support and aboutwhich may freely turn two sprocket'wheels 15. At the other end of theframe in a position corresponding with that of said end bolt, isjournaled in suitable bearings a driving shaft 16 having two sprocketwheels 17 which respectivelyaline with the sprocket wheels 15 on saidtransverse bolt or stationary shaft connecting the pair of aliningsprocket wheels is a sprocket chain 18 which at regularly spacedintervals on its outer side is provided with paper-gripping devices eachin the form of a block 19 that is fixed to the chain, and a block20-pivoted at one edge to the chain attached block so that by theswinging of the pivoted block the edge of the paper may be clamped, orgripped between the two blocks, or released therefrom. A coil spring 21conveniently mounted on the pivot pin of the paper clamp acts normallyto swing the pivoted block out of contact with the edge of the paper,and as is hereinafter explained, means are provided which causeautomatically the movement of the pivoted block against the action ofits spring so as to clamp, or grip the edge of the paper between the twoblocks, at which time the paper partakes of the movement of the grip, orclamp with its chain and the feed of the paper is caused. Preferably thepaper-engaging faces of the two blocks are covered with leather, orother friction producing material which will securely grip the paperwithout injury to it.

Each of the hinged blocks of the paper gripping device has projectingfrom its edge opposite its hinge a pin or stud 22, and these pins orstuds are adapted to engage, as they -aremoved along with the chain,with a horizontal rod, or rail 23 which is supported-su=fficiently closeto the paper that the pivoted blocks will be swung on their pivotstoward: their respective fellow a clamping members and thereby thepapergripped, or clamped, such gripping of the paper continuing so longas the pins, or studs remain in contact with said rail. The end of therail. toward which the blocks move is curved outward and upward toprovide cam surface 24 which is in the path of the block pins, or studs,which before they come in contact with the rail are in a verticalposition so that by the action ofsuch cam on the pins, or studs, theblocks are swung downward to grip, or bind "the paper, as I has beenexplained. "The rail is .vprefera'bly of such length that severalclampsat a time are in contact therewithso that the paper at the same timeisgripped ats-everal separated points and thus the advantage of drawingthe paperalong by having engaged atv several pointsal'ong its edgerather than one point, is secured.

The clamp actuating rail is movably mounted so that itmay be moved torelease 1 the clamps, as when a new sheet of paper is to be used, so asto facilitate, or enable the threading of the paper in the clamps, butnormallythe rail is maintained in a position where it is ready to-actupon the. movable members of the clamps to, causetheir engagement withthe paper and at the proper time 'their automatic; release from the.paper when by thetravel of the chain the clamps are carried out ofcontact withthe rail. Each rail at its oppositeendshas an arm 25 whichextends substantially ,at right angles to the rail andis passed througha diametrically extending hole near the end of a horizontal rock shaft26avhich is-journaled in bearing lugs27' on theoutside'of and near theends ofa'frame-plate 28 through which the end cross bars1and the drivingshaft 16pass, said frame plates being thus supported. Entering each endof the rock shaft isa set screw 29 which impinges upon the portionof thearm 27 thereinand thus an adjustable mounting of the rail is securedwhichenables such adjustability of the rail as may be necessary tosecurethe desired clamping action of the clamps. .l'lear each bearing lug the,rock shaft hasa shortcoil spring 30, which, at one, end is fixed to abearing lug 27 ,andat the other end engages a set collar 3l fixed to theshaft, :which springs constitute the means for normally holding the railin position to act upon the clamps. At midlength the rockshaft has aradial handle 32 by; which it .may conveniently be turned to lift therail from its position to act upon, the clamps and as a convenient meansof holding, the rail in such lifted position while, leaving the handsfree to place the paper, I provide aspring-actuated latch stud 33 thatpasses through a hole in one of the bearing lugs 27 and enters a hole34: in the rock shaft when the latter is turned sufficiently to lift therail to thede sired extent. The upperside of each frame plate 28 has alongitudinal-groove or channelformed by parallel vertical ribs 35 toconfine the chain carrying blocks of the clamps against lateralmovement, and the outer edges of said; blocks are overhung at the top bya horizontal flange 36 on the outer vertical rib 35. Thus displacementof the clamps while acting upon the paper is impossible. The spacebetween the twoframe plates is bridged. by a plate 38 which forms asupporting table, or surface for the paper asit is fed along, and saidplate is remowable because to suit the machine for feeding paper ofdifferent widths thev plates are justable toward and from each other,and hence, for paper of differentwidthsplates of different widths mustbe employed. Each frame, plate 28v is forkedor bifurcated at its end soas to straddleat eachjend one of the sprocket wheelsand thesprocketwheelsbeing thus embraced and confined by the forks of the plates itwill be, seen, that when the plates are shifted to adjust them for,different widths of, paper the sprocket wheels,

and their chains are likewiseshi-ftedl The drivingshaft lG is providedwith a keyway and each sprocket wheel thereon, has a; key.

or spline that enters saidkeyway so that bythe-revolution ofv the shaftboth sprocket wheels are revolved and they areso revolved whatever bethe position to which they may be shifted along the shaft. To secure theframe plates and all, the parts which move therewith in the desiredposition of adjustment, Iplace upon the driving shaft at one side ofeach of the sprocketfwheels thereon a collar 37 which preferably isspline-dto the shaft and which has ac set screw 38- by which the collarmay be, fixed to the. shaft and thus theparts restrained in the positiontowhich they may beset or adjusted.

On the underside of each frame-plate is attached a horizontal bar or rod39 inposition to be engaged by; the pins or studs of loo the hingemembers of the clamps, and each ofsaid rods inclines inwardso that asthe oted on theend cross boltll of the. frame. Said leverfl l'isconnected; by-apitman 4E5= with one end of an eccentric rod 49 Whoseother end is connected with an eccentric 47 on the punch operating shaft48 of the perforating machine and the same eccentric rod is connectedwith a ratchet lever 50 of the feed roll 51 by which the master sheet isfed in the operation of the perforating machine. The pitman 45 and lever50 which at their ends are connected with the eccentric rod, have atoggle-like relation so that as the eccentric rod 49 moves back andforth the respective levers 44 and 50 are vibrated. For preventing backmotion of the ratchet wheel, a dog, or pawl 52, is provided. By changingthe ratchet wheel for one of different diameter, for example, onesmaller, it will be seen that the travel of the carrier chains will beshortened and the same result can be secured by changing the stroke ofthe feeding pawl carrying arm. Thus, as the feed of the master sheet isconnected with the feed of the paper to be punched, it will be seen thata perforated sheet that is a duplicate in all respects of the mastersheet, may be produced, or by changing the extent of the paper feed aperforated sheet, either longer or shorter than the master sheet may beproduced.

It will be seen that danger, or likelihood of slippage of the paper iseliminated by my feeding mechanism, both by reason of the fact that eachedge of the paper is gripped, or clamped by the feeding devices atseveral separated points and by reason of the form of the paper-engagingmeans which have a positive hold upon the paper. It is obvious thatseveral sheets at a time may be passed through the machine for theclamps can adequately grip several thicknesses of paper. It will beobserved that the feeding movement is a step by step one and notcontinuous, so that the paper is stiifer While being perforated. Shouldthe jaws of a clamp tend to stick together at a point just before theyreach the position in their return movement for engaging the oncomingpaper, their pins or studs 22 may be engaged by cams or guides whichwill force the movable jaw to an open position ready for the paper.

WVhile I prefer to embody my invention in the construction shown in thedrawings, yet, it is to be understood that it is possible withoutdeparture from my invention to otherwise embody it.

Having thus described my invention what I claim is- 1. The combinationof a frame, a driving shaft, means for imparting motion to the drivingshaft, traveling sheet clamping devices situated to engage oppositesides of the sheet, means for imparting motion to said devices from saidshaft, and supports for said devices, one being shiftable toward andfrom the other to adjust for. sheets of different width.

2. The combination of a frame, a driving shaft, means for impartingmotion to the driving shaft, endless carriers receiving motion from saiddriving shaft, a series of sheet clamping devices spaced along each ofsaid carriers, said clamping devices having each a movable jaw, means inthe path of travel of said jaws to actuate the same, and a support forone of said endless carriers which is shiftable toward and from theother endless carrier to adjust the distance from carrier to carrierbetween their sheet-clamping device to adjust for sheets of differentwidth.

3 The combination of a frame, a driving shaft, means for impartingmotion to the driving shaft, endless carriers receiving motion from saiddriving shaft, a series of sheet clamping devices spaced along each ofsaid carriers, said clamping devices having each a movable jaw, a springfor each jaw acting to move it to an open position, a rail contiguous tothe path of travel of the movable jaws that is engaged by them to movethem in opposition to the action of their springs, a support for one ofsaid endless carriers and for said rail, which is shiftable toward andfrom the other endless carrier to adjust the distance from carrier tocarrier between their sheet-clamping device to adjust for sheets ofdifferent width.

4. The combination of a frame, a driving shaft, means for impartingmotion to the driving shaft, traveling sheet clamping devices situatedto engage opposite sides of the sheet, means for imparting motion tosaid devices from said shaft, and supports for said devices throughwhich the shaft passes that are shiftable toward and from each otheralong the shaft.

5. The combination of a frame, a pair of shafts supported thereby, oneof said shafts being a driving shaft, wheels on the shafts, endlesscarriers connecting the wheels of the respective shafts, sheet clampingdevices mounted on said carriers, and frame plates slidably mounted onthe two shafts and straddling the respective wheels on the shaft wherebyshifting of the plates is accompanied by shifting of the wheels andtheir carriers.

6. The combination of a series of sheet clamps each having a movablemember, means for moving said clamps along, a rail contiguous to thepath in which said clamps move situated to act upon the movable membersthereof, and means to move said rail out of such situation.

7 The combination of a series of sheet clamps, each having a movablemember, means for moving said clamps along, a rail contiguous to thepath in which said clamps move situated to act upon the movablememvbersc-thereof, anda spring actuated rock shaft to Which said rail isconnected.

-,8. The combination of aseries of sheet clamps, each having a movablemember, means for movingsaid clamps along, a rail contiguous to the pathin which said clamps move situated to act upon the movable membersthereof, a spring actuated rock shaft to Which said rail is connected,said rock shaft being normally; held in a position to. present theirailin clamp-operating position, ineans toturn saidcshaft to move said rail1 from such position, and a latch device to hold the rock .shaftin theposition to Whichit may beturned.

9. The a combination of a series of sheet clamps, each having a movablemember, means for moving said clamps aloiig, a rail contiguous to the"path in which said clamps move situated to act upon the movable memhavehereunto set my ha'nd;

EDGAR-WV.MYERS.

L Witnesses -HELEVN G. GIBSON, FRANK Au-BELL !op les oi this patent maybe obtained for, five cents each, by addressing the-,fcommlssioner ofPatents,

.Lawasliingtonm, G.

